Curtain-fastener.



H. A. POPPENHUSEN.

CURTAIN FASTENER.

APPLICATION man JULY 3,1916.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

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HQA; FOPPENHUSEN.

CURTAIN FASTENER. "APPLICATION FILED jqur 3. l9l6.

Patented Sept. 26,1916.

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HERMAN A. POPPENHUSEN, OF HAMMOND, INDIANA.

CURTAIN -FASTEN ER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

Application filed July 3, 1916. Serial No. 107,264.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, HERMAN A. POPPEN- HUSEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hammond, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in fastening devices, and more particularly to devices of the character described adapted for use upon cur'tain'sof the detachable type as ordinarily applied tomotor and other vehicles and in connection with the top covering to form a closure for the interior of the vehicle body as a protection from the weather.

Curtains of the character described are commonly designed to be entirely or partially detachable from the vehicle body or top covering, there being provided fastening devices, parts of which are permanently at-- tached to the vehicle body and cooperate with other parts secured to the curtain, to connect the margins of the curtain to the vehicle body. The usual types of curtain fasteners are manipulated from the exterior of the vehicle and therefore necessitate a person subjecting himself to unfavorable conditions accompanying bad Weather, in order to apply the curtains.

Among the objects of the invention is to provide a fastening device which will permit the curtains to be applied with equal ease and despatch from either the interior or exterior of the vehicle.

Other features of the invention are directed toward producing a form of device that is simple in construction and operation, com prising parts so arranged as to permit the convenient and easy operation of the same, to the end that the curtains can be removed or attached in a short interval of time, and yet provide a secure connection between the curtain and the vehicle body.

The features of my invention are embodied in any one of several types of the device which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of one form of fastening device; Fig. 2 is a View of the fastening device in vertical section, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the parts of the fastening device disconnected; Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of a modified form of the device; Fig. 7 is a view in vertical section of the device shown in Fig. 6 and taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view in elevation of a modified form of the device embodying the features of the invention; Fig. 9 is a view in vertical section of the device shown in Fig. 8 and taken on line 99 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the form shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a view of the locking member of the device shown inFig. 8 in looking position; and Fig. 12 is a view of the locking member of the device shown in Fig. 8 in unlocked position.

Although the device embodying the novel features of the invention may assume one of several forms, there are certain features common to all which may be set forth: The curtain 10, which may be of any desired shape or material, is preferably of that kind which is connected to the vehicle body along one or more of its margins, and has mounted or connected to the marginal portions of the curtain fabricone member of the fastening device, namely, the part forming the marginal locking notch. This memher is preferably in the form of a plate 11, comprising a double thickness of thin sheet metal or like material of durable character, secured to the curtain fabric by a plurality of rivets. lVithin the plate is provided the locking notch l2, consisting of an enlarged portion and a narrower neck portion forming a marginal opening or entrance to the enlarged portion, the width of said neck portion being substantially less than the width of the enlarged portion. The other parts of the fastening device consist in general of, a supporting member fixed to the vehicle body and carrying a movable locking member so shaped that in one position it is free to enter the marginal lockin notch through the neck portion thereof, and when it is within said notch is actuated by means of a suitable spring into locking engagement with said locking notch, so that it cannot pass outwardly through the narrow entrance. As a preferable construction, the spring is so arranged that the locking memher is manipulated against the tension of the spring to place the same into position to enter the entrance of the notch, and when fully within the notch, the parts are released and thrown into locking engagement under the tension of the spring. The locking member is further provided with two sets of manipulating members or finger pieces, arranged so that when the curtain is engaged by the locking member, the sets of manipulating members will be on opposite sides of the curtain, each being capable of operating the locking member and from either the outside or the inside of the cur tain.

Referring now in detail to one form of locking device, the same comprises a supporting member having the form of a metal base plate 11, of any desired shape, which is rigidly mounted upon the exterior surface of the vehicle body 15 by screws 16 or other suitable means, and a stud or post 17, preferably integral with the base plate and eX- tending at right angles to said plate and outwardly from the surface of the vehicle body. The post 17 is preferably formed to provide an outer end portion 18 (Fig. 5), generally cylindric in shape and having its upper and lower surfaces flattened for the purpose hereinafter set forth. Intermediate the cylindric portion 18 and the base plate 14: the post is provided with a reduced portion forming a locking head 19, having flat toned top and bottom surfaces forming continuations of the correspondin surfaces of the end portion, flat lateral surfaces arranged in parallel relation and spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the cy lindric end portion 18. As shown in Fig. 3,

the locking head thus assumes a rectangular contour, elongated in a vertical direction. The purpose of forming the post 1n the manner described is to provide a locking.

head which will enter the marginal opening of the locking notch of the curtain and an end portion which will fit within the en larged portion but will not pass through said narrow marginal opening thereof.

Mounted on the post 17 is an endwise movable locking member 20, resembling a spool in shape and comprising two disk-shaped guard flanges 21, 21, connected together by a transverse connecting member 22, which engages the post, as hereinafter set forth. The locking member is held upon the post by means of a washer 23 and a screw 24, the latter being inserted in the end of the post. The connecting member 22 does not completely surround the stud, but has portions on opposite sides thereof removed, thus forming apertures on each side thereof, which permit the lateral cylindric surfaces of the end portion 18 of the post to be exposed. As shown in Fig. 1, the connecting member 22 is in reality two bars which extend transversely of the disks 21, 21, above and below the post, said bars being provided with flattened inner surfaces, which engage the upper and lower surfaces of the post, and curved outer surfaces conforming to the curvature of the cylindric surfaces of the outer end portion 18 of the post. The provision of the coacting plane surfaces of the post and locking member permits the endwise sliding movement of the latter, and at the same time prevents rotative movement of said locking member upon said post. Surrounding the locking head 18 of the post is a coiled spring 25 connected at its inner end to the base plate 14, and at the outer end to the locking member 20, said spring bearing against said locking member 20 at its outer end and acting to normally retain the spool at the outer end or cylindric portion of the post, and, furthermore, acting to exert a tension against said locking member opposing a force tending to move said locking member inwardly.

The locking member 20 is adapted to engage the marginal locking notch 12 of the curtain and to carry the marginal portion or plate 11 of the curtain in the operation of locking and unlocking the device, and for this reason the guard flanges 21, 21 are provided, which embrace between them the metal plate, thus maintaining the engagement of the locking notch and the locking member. As shown in Figs. 2 and a, the lower edge of the plate and curtain extends a distance below the fastening device, when said curtain is attached, and hence it is impossible to manipulate the locking member from the inside of the curtain or the vehicle without the provision of separate means for doing so. For this reason it is desirable to provide the locking member 20 with a finger piece 26, preferably formed integral with the innermost flange 21 of said locking member, said finger piece projecting upwardly and suitably shaped so that it may be grasped by the fingers of a person within the vehicle and manipulated in a manner to be described.

To operate the fastening device to secure the curtain to the body or other part of the vehicle, the locking member is first pressed inwardly by the fingers from the exterior of or pulled inwardly from Within the vehicle, by means of the finger piece 26. In this position the post is free to be engaged by the locking notch 12 of the curtain, inasmuch as the locking head 19, or narrower part of the post, registers with the space between the guard fingers 21, 21 of the locking member, and is capable of entering or passing through the narrow neck portion of the marginal locking notch. Thus to fasten a marginal portion of the curtain with its corresponding fastening device, the locking member is held in its depressed position, and the locking notch 12 is inserted between the flanges 21, 21 of the locking member and downwardly over the locking head until the enlarged portion of the notch surrounds the central portion of the locking member and said locking head. The locking member is then released and under the action of the spring is carried forward over the cylindric end portion. In this position the curtain is securely locked, for the reason that the cylindric end portion of the post cannot pass outwardly through the neck portion of the locking notch. To reiease the curtain it is only necessary to press or pull the locking member inwardly over the locking head, thereby permitting the locking notch to be disengaged from the head by moving the metal plate upwardly.

A modified form of the locking device is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and comprises a base plate 27, mounted on the vehicle body 15 as before described, and provided with a post or pivot pin 28 integral therewith.

The post 28 is uniformly cylindric and supports a rotative locking head 29 mounted at its outer extremity. The locking head consists of an elongated member, of oval shape in sectional contour, provided at its ends with integral disk-shaped guard flanges 30 and 31, between which the locking notch of the curtain is inserted and retained. The outer flange 30 is preferably provided with a knurled or otherwise roughened periphery, and the inner flange 31 with an upwardly extending projection or finger piece 32. The locking member is designed to be rotated upon the post through an angle of .90 into locking and unlocking position, said head being disposed with its major axis in vertical position when in unlocking position and in horizontal position when in locked position. The width of said locking head is substantially equal to the width of the marginal neck opening of the locking notch 33, which in this instance is formed in a metal plate 3%, secured to the margin of the curtain in the same manner as hereinbefore described, said locking notch consisting also of a circular aperture and a narrow opening. To lock the curtain by this particular form of fastening device, the notch is passed clownwardly over the locking head, when the latter is in vertical or unlocking position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, in which position said locking head passes through the neck opening and engages the enlarged portion of the locking notch. The parts being now in position to be locked, the head is turned through 90 into locking position, wherein the locking head is unable to pass outwardly through the neck opening. As shown in the drawings, the head is preferably rotated from left to right to move the same from unlocking into locking position. In order to accomplish the automatic looking of the head, there is provided a coil spring 35, which surrounds the post, intermediate the locking head 29 and the base plate 27, and is connected at its opposite ends to said head and plate. The spring is arranged to exert a tension upon the head, acting to rotate the head into locking position, thus the head is held against the tension of the spring while the locking notch is inserted over the locking head and, when released, is thrown into locking position. The locking member can be manipulated .1; either side of the curtain, by means of the outer flange 30 or the finger piece 32 of the inner flange, the latter being preferably arranged so that its movement is entirely within an are which permits the linger piece to remain substantially vertical. In other respects, the fastening device just described is similar in construction and operation to the form previously described, therefore need not be further referred to in detail.

A further modification of the locking device is shown in Figs. 8 to 12, and embodies a base plate 36 and a post or pivot pin 37, constructed in the same manner as hereinbefore described. Mounted upon the post is a locking member 38, comprising two aw members 39 and 40 journaled upon the post, each comprising oownwardly inclined plates provided at their margins with outwardly and upwardly extending guard flanges 41. As a preferable construction, the jaw member 38 is provided with a cylindric bearing portion 42 (Fig. 8) at its upper end, which surrounds the post and forms the bearing therefor, the other jaw member 39 being provided at its ends with bearings formed in the transverse end plates 13, which lie in the plane of the guard flanges 41 and embrace the ends of the journal bearing 12 of the associated jaw member 39. A washer and a screw inserted into the end of the post serve to retain the jaw members in place upon the pivot pin. The locking member constructed in the manner described resembles somewhat the ordinary hinge or a pair of tongs, with the addition ofthe guard flanges spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the plate having the locking notch therein and providing channel adapted to engage said locking notch in the manner hereinafter set forth. As a means for operating the locking member, each of the jaw members is provided with finger pieces 4 and 45, which are formed integral with the upper portions of the guard flanges and extend upwardly in substantially vertical direction. The finger pieces at the adjacent ends of said jaw members preferably bear against each other and, furthermore, are arranged to extend on opposite sides of the pivot pin from their associated jaw members. Ihus by pressing the finger pieces together or toward each other, said jaw members will be moved toward each other into unlocking position. In normal position the jaw members occupy a down wardly inclined position or approximately 30 to the vertical, as shown in Fig. 11, and by pressing the finger pieces together, the jaw members are moved into vertical position, as shown in Fig. 12. To permit the jaw members to be moved apart automatically, a small coil spring a6 is provided, which eXtends between the inner opposed faces of said jaw members.v the ends of said spring being held in place by the provision of nubs or bosses a7, which engage the ends of the spring. In this form of the fastening device, it is desirable to depart from the form of locking notch of the curtain hereinbefore described, namely, by )roviding said notch 48 with an enlarged portion 49 having a substantially triangular shape, with its side margins inclined to correspond to the inclination of the jaw members in their normal or looking position, and rounded at its apex to correspond to the curvature at the journal or hearing of the jaw member 39. The base portion of the enlarged aperture is substantially wider than the neck opening, thus maintaining the relationship between.

the parts of the locking notch, as before set forth in connection with the forms previously described. To operate this form of locking member, the finger pieces on either side of the curtain are pressed together, thereby moving the jaw members into the vertical unlocking position, shown in Fig. 12. In this position, the locking member reduced in width so that the same can pass through the neck opening of the locking notch, thus to attach the marginal portion of the curtain. the metal plate is inserted between the guard flanges of the locking member, the locking notch passing downwardly over the locking member until the latter is confined within the enlarged portion of the locking notch. Upon releasing the finger pieces, the said members immediately spring outwardly into locking position, thus effecting the locking of the curtain. To detach the curtain, the finger pieces are again pressed together, which enables the locking member to pass through the narrow entrance to the locking notch. and from engagement with the locking member. As in the case of the forms hereinhefore described, there are provided two sets of operating members in the form of pairs of finger pieces, which are located on opposite sides of the curtain, thus permitting the operation of the locking member from either side of said curtain. It is to be pointed out that in this form of locking device it is only necessary to manipulate the finger pieces in detaching the curtain, for the reason that in attaching the curtain the locking member can be moved into unlocking position by the downward pressure of the margins of the neck opening against the surface of the jaw members in the act of passing the notch downwardly over the locking member. Hence, in this form of the device the curtains can be applied very easily and in a manner that may be described as snapping the curtains in place.

All of the locking devices described embody the same general features which con-' tribute to providing a curtain fastener designed to eliminate the difficulties ordinarily experienced in the ordinary forms of fasteners used, and, further, to facilitate the application and removal of curtains with the least effort and inconvenience. These features can be accomplished in one of several ways, as illustrated by the forms herein described, and for that reason I do not wish to be limited to any particular form of the device, eXcept in so far as specially set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fastening device, the combination with a curtain provided with a marginal locking notch, of a locking member movable into and out of locking engagement with said notch, and means for operating said locking member from either side of said curtain.

2. In a fastening device, the combination with a curtain provided with a marginal locking notch, of a locking member movable into and out of locking engagement with said notch, tension means acting on said locking member to move the same into looking position. and means for operating said locking member from either side of said curtain.

3. In a fastening device, the combination with a curtain provided with a marginal locking notch, of a locking member movable into and out of locking engagement with said notch, and tension means acting on said locking member to move the same into looking position.

L. In a fastening device, the combination of a curtain provided with a marginal locking notch, a locking member movable into and out of locking engagement with said locking notch and provided with flanges embracing between them the margin of the curtain, and means for operating said locking member from either side of said curtain.

5. In a fastening device, the combination of a curtain provided with a marginal locking notch, a locking member movable into and out of locking engagement with said locking notch and provided with flanges embracing between them the margin of the curtain, and a spring acting on said locking member to move the same into locking position.

6. In a fastening device, the combination with a curtain provided with a locking notch having a narrow marginal opening, of a fixed supporting member, a lockin member mounted on said supporting member and movable into position to enter said opening of the locking notch, a spring acting on said locking member to move the same into looking engagement with said locking notch, and means for operating said locking memher from either side of said curtain.

7. In a fastening device, the combination with a curtain provided with a marginal locking notch, of a supporting member, a locking member movably mounted on said supporting member, said locking member being adapted to be moved into one position to enter said notch and to be moved into another position to effect locking engagement with said locking notch and provided with flanges spaced apart to embrace the portions of said curtain adjacent to said notch, and means for moving said locking member from either side of said curtain.

8. In a fastening device, the combination with a curtain having a marginal locking notch, of a. locking member mounted on the body of a vehicle and movable into locking and unlocking engagement with said locking notch, a spring acting on said locking member to move the same into locking position,

and a finger piece integral with said locking member and located adjacent the inner surface of said curtain when engaging said locking member.

9. In a fastening device, the combination with a curtain having a marginal locking notch, of a locking member mounted on the member to which said curtain is to be attached and movable into and out of locking engagement with said locking notch, said locking member being provided with operating members spaced apart and positioned on opposite sides of said curtain when in position to be locked, and a spring acting on said locking member to move the same into locking position.

10. In a fastening device, the combination of a curtain provided with a marginal locking notch, a fixed supporting member provided with a locking head adapted to engage said locking notch, a locking member movable endwise upon said supporting member and adapted to move the marginal portion of said curtain to efiect the locking and unlocking of said locking head and notch, said locking member being operable from either side of said curtain.

11. In a fastening device, the combination with a curtain provided with a locking notch having a narrow marginal opening, of a fixed supporting member provided with a locking head adapted to engage said looking notch, a locking member mounted on said supporting member, movable endwise upon said supporting member and adapted to carry said notch into position to engage said locking member, and a spring acting on said locking member to move said locking member into locking position.

12. In a fastening device, the combination with a curtain having a marginal locking notch, of a fixed supporting member provided with a post having a locking head adapted to enter said locking notch, a looking member mounted on said post and movable endwise into and out of registering relation with said locking head, and a spring acting on said locking member to move the same out of registering relation with said locking head.

13. In a fastening device, the combination with curtain having a marginal locking notch, of a fixed supporting member pro vided with a locking head adapted to enter said notch, a locking member mounted on said supporting member and movable into and out of registering relation with said locking head to effect the engagement and locking of said head and notch, said looking member being provided with operating members spaced apart and positioned on 0pposite sides of said curtain when in position to be locked, and a spring acting on said locking member to move the same into look ing position.

1 In a fastening device, the combination of a curtain provided with a marginal look ing notch, a supporting member, a locking member rotatively mounted on said. supporting member and. movable into and out of locking engagement with said locking notch, and a spring mounted on said supporting member and acting on the said locking memher to move the same into locking position.

15. In a fastening device,the combination with a curtain provided with a marginal locking notch, of a fixed supporting member, a locking member rotative upon said supporting member and into and out of looking engagement with said locking notch, said locking member being provided with flanges spaced apart and adapted to embrace the marginal portions of said notch, and operatingvmembers integral with said flanges and located on opposite sides of said curtain.

16. In a fastening device, the combination of a curtain provided with a marginal notch, a fixed supporting member, a locking member journaled on said supporting member and comprising relatively movable members adapted to be moved into and out of locking engagement with said locking notch, a

spring acting to move said locking member presence of two Witnesses, this 30th day of into locking position, said locking member June, A. D. 1916.

bein provided With operating members T adap ted to be manipulated from either side HERMAN POPPENHUSEB' 3 of said curtain. Witnesses:

In testlmony that I claim the foregoing as H. R. /VILSON, my invent-1011, I affix my signature 1n the A. S. BRADY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

